Aerial vessel



July 1 1930. J. BOWIE 1,768,738

- AERIAL VESSEL Filed Ma 14, 1929 2 \PKHMW Patented July 1, 1930 FFlE JAMES BOWIE, OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND AERIAL VESSEL Application filed May 14, 1929, Serial No. 362,919, and in Great Britain July 5,1928.

My invention relates to aerial vessels of the type in which horizontal and vertical propellers are employed and has for its obconvolutions, and working in conjunction with, and at one end of, and discharging air into an inclined and tapered chute, the

lower end of the latter being preferably provided with a closure or door. Any convenient number of these propellers and chutes may be employed between any two or more of these aerial vessels.

In the space bet-ween the vessels, suitable structures may be provided to form accommodation for the crew or passengers, and

also for motors, propelling machinery and the like.

The combined vessels are also provided with the usual propellers or helicopters for elevating or raising vertically aerial vessels, and also one or more propellers having a horizontal axis.

In order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to in describing my invention.

Figure 1, is a plan of one of the vessels showing the chute employed for propelling ahead and lifting. Figure 2, is an end elevation of two vessels combined. Figure 3, is a side elevation of one of the vessels, and Figures 4, and 5, show respectively a plan, and a vertical section of the inclined and tapered chute. In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.

As shown, by way of example, in Figure 2, of the drawings, two aerial vessels A, and B, are arranged side by side and rigidly stayed'to one another by connections C, and D, and interposed between the vessels are inclined and tapered chutes IE, only one chute being shown which is secured to the combined vessels by straps or the like F, and G, but any convenient number of these chutes may be employed.

The chute E, the lower end of which it is essential'should be clear of all obstruction is positioned at a higher level than the normal water line when the vessel is floating, and the chute is provided at its upper end with a propeller (not shown) but similar to the propeller H, shown in Figures 2 and 3 which consists of two convolutions, the base of the lower convolution working in a circular recess arranged directly over the chute. The object of the propeller H, is to draw air into and down through the inclined chute E.

In the space between the two vessels A, and B, suitable structures may be provided, and the space between the chutes and the sides of the vessels may also be utilized-for storage and the like. The combined vessels A, and B, are also provided with the usual propellers or helicopters J, for elevating or raising vertically aerial vessels, and also with one or more propellers K, having a horizontal axis.

Each vessel is also provided with the usual rudders or planes L, for steering when flying, and also with rudders M, for steering when afloat, each set of rudders being controlled and operated simultaneously. The usual ballast tanks N, which may serve as fuel containers are provided, and the engines or motors may be housed in casings P, on deck, or they may be positioned in suitable structures interposed between the combined vessels.

By arranging the inclined and tapered chutes with their propellers, as just described, air is forced from the propeller into and through the chute, thus substantially 95 increasing the lifting power of the propeller, and at the same time driving the combined vessels ahead, and further reducing the number of vertical propellers or helicopters usually required.

What I claim is An aerial vessel, comprising in combination, a plurality of Vessels rigidly connected together in spaced-apart parallel relation,

5 a chute disposed in inclined position between adjacent vessels, said chute being tapered in diameter toward the lower rear end, and a propeller at the upper end of said chute for forcing air into and through 10 the chute.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES BOWIE. 

